The Advanced Learning Certificate in Data Visualization & Communication leverages tools like Excel and PowerPoint that are already on your computer to build your skills at visualizing data and communicating it to various audiences.

In a fast-paced world with ever more information surrounding us, the ability to share information succinctly and use data to tell compelling stories has become a vital skill. This certificate program will be helpful to professionals in a range of settings who create reports, presentations, and other communications using data. 

Class meetings provide participants with opportunities to learn and apply data visualization best practices for creating charts in Excel and other visuals for dissemination products, such as presentations, dashboards, reports, and one-pagers. Through a variety of activities, participants will build skills to design their own data visualization style guide, supporting impactful visuals for both quantitative and qualitative data.  They will also learn to build dissemination plans to reach specific audiences, learn strategies to engage stakeholders with data findings and gain practice telling stories with data.

Participants are encouraged to work on their own datasets or projects within the program, engaging in class assignments and activities to create products that will be useful for their own agency setting or interests. This certificate program welcomes beginners who are new to data visualization and seeks to build foundational skills.

ONLINE PROGRAM: This 4-session program includes online class meetings on Fridays via Zoom, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Central Time).

March 14 & 28, April 11, and May 2, 2025

Continuing Education Information:

• 30 Missouri/Illinois Social Work CEs
• 30 public health CPH units

AN APPROVED APPLICATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE ENROLLING IN THIS COURSE. APPLY TODAY!

Application Deadline: March 3, 2025 by 5:00 p.m., Central Time.

Course Outline

• Module 1:  Science of Communication and Data Visualization Best Practices
• Module 2:  Quantitative Data Visuals
• Module 3: Qualitative Data Visuals and Dissemination Planning
• Module 4: Storytelling with Data and Data Party

Learner Outcomes

• Understand and apply data visualization and communication theories, best practices, and principles to generate their own equitable and inclusive data visualizations.
• Identify best practices for communicating and presenting both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Gain a fundamental understanding of how to apply visualization best practices to create different chart types in Excel.
• Develop a dissemination plan that includes the identification of tailored products for different stakeholder groups/audiences.
• Understand a process for facilitating stakeholder engagement in data interpretation and communicating and using data,
• Understand strategies and processes for producing data insights strategically and effectively.